Oct 31, 2020

Challenges Monthly Wrap-up: October

CHALLENGE 1: 2020 New Release Challenge

The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill (ARC)--Review to come next month!
Defending the Galaxy by Maria V. Snyder (ARC)--Review to come next month!
Grave War by Kalayna Price (ARC)--Review to come next month!


I now surpassed my goal by 10!!



CHALLENGE 2: Print ONLY 2020 Reading Challenge

The Merciless III by Danielle Vega
The Merciless IV by Danielle Vega
Hellworld by Tom Leveen
The Ravenous by Amy Lukavics


Still not done with this one yet, but I'm at 43/45...just two more to go! It's becoming more challenging since I've got a slew of review books on my kindle that need reading! Eek!



CHALLENGE 3: 2020 Discussion Challenge

Fall Time, Cozy Time Book Tag
Halloween
The Love Island Book Tag

 

This challenge is completed and I have no plans of upping my goal...too uncertain what will come up that will be discussion worthy. Lol.




CHALLENGE 4: Beat the Backlist 2020 Reading Challenge

The Merciless III by Danielle Vega (7/11/17)
The Merciless IV by Danielle Vega (6/12/18)
Hellworld by Tom Leveen (3/21/17)
The Ravenous by Amy Lukavics (9/26/17)


Still running strong on this one too! Another one I surpassed but wasn't giving myself another goal just because and mostly because I am swamped with review books I need to read!



CHALLENGE 5: 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge


The Merciless IV by Danielle Vega (The Merciless)
Grave War by Kalayna Price (Alex Craft)--Review will come in November!








Oct 30, 2020

Review--The Ravenous by Amy Lukavics

From the outside, the Cane family looks like they have it all. A successful military father, a loving mother and five beautiful teenage daughters. But on the inside, life isn't quite so idyllic: the Cane sisters can barely stand each other, their father is always away, and their neglectful mother struggles with addiction and depression.

When their youngest and most beloved sister, Rose, dies in a tragic accident, Mona Cane and her sisters are devastated. And when she is brought back from the dead, they are relieved. But soon they discover that Rose must eat human flesh to survive, and when their mother abandons them, the sisters will find out just how far they'll go to keep their family together.

 

 

 

 

Well, I finished yet another spooky read just before the Halloween season comes to an end! I picked up yet another TBR book I’ve had sitting for too long and this time it was The Ravenous by Amy Lukavics! Amy has written some pretty creepy books before and decided to give this one a try and it was downright chilling, but not in all the ways you would think.

Mona is one of five sisters in her family, she’s the second to youngest and her family is a bit dysfunctional. Her father is a colonel in the army and is always away, while Mona and her sisters are left with their drunken mother. Their mother has never really been present in their lives lately and it was up to Juliet, the oldest to help take care of everyone, except Juliet isn’t exactly what you would call the loving big sister.

Then on her youngest sister, Rose’s birthday, tragedy strikes and Rose dies. Her mother in a somewhat lucid state frantically takes Rose’s body away, leaving everyone sobbing and upset at home. When she returns, Rose is alive, but changed. She insists that Rose will be fine and back to normal, just as soon as she gets her “medicine.”

You can naturally assume where things are headed at this point. While Rose does start to feel better after having her first dose of medicine, it doesn’t last long and soon she’s hungry and nothing can stay down in her stomach. Their mother frantically leaves the house, mumbling nonsense to herself, once again leaving her children all on their own.

Well, at this point, the girls discover that the medicine was in fact human flesh and since that’s the only thing Rose can eat, that’s exactly what they will feed her. Juliet takes charge on how exactly this will play out and this my friends, is where things take an even darker turn.

Juliet is one scary sister. She’s horrible to everyone but Rose. She practically raised Rose herself since their mother checked out on them shortly after her birth. Instead of going off to college Juliet stayed home to tend to Rose…and her other sisters. Taylor, the second oldest, was Juliet’s shadow/yes-man. Whatever Juliet said or did, Taylor did too. That leaves Mona and Anya as the middle men, yet they aren’t as close as they once were either. But man, Juliet is downright abusive to her sisters. If it’s not a smack or two here, it’s a vicious series of verbal abuse. It was almost hard to read because it was just so dark and dare I say, damaging? Mona ends up developing a drinking problem, which coming from a fifteen-year-old was also terrifying.

You can slowly see where things are headed towards the end, and that too was pretty terrifying. So yeah, a perfect Halloween read! The aftermath of the ending itself was also just a little eerie, it’s one of those endings where you wonder if things are truly over or not. I mean, it is also a perfect way to end a horror novel, but dannnnng! While I could’ve done without some of the sisterly abuse that was happening on a daily basis and pretty much Juliet as a whole…though she was the driving force of the sister’s actions and thus the story at large…this was still a pretty entertaining novel. I didn’t care for some bits here and there, ones that just rubbed me the wrong way, but the horror aspects were spot on!

The Ravenous will make for a perfect Halloween read if you’re looking for something that is truly disturbing on a series of levels and might have you looking at your siblings a bit differently. Highly recommended for the only child! Lol.

 

 

Overall Rating 3.5/5 stars

 

 

 


 

 

Creeptastic Giveaway Winner!

 

Making this a quick little post since I have to get ready for work! The winner of my Creeptastic Giveaway has been chosen and the randomnizer gods have chosen...


DANIELLE H!



Congrats Danielle! You should have your email by now! If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen so always check your email!


Thanks again guys! I hope to do more contests next year, but I think we can all agree that 2020 was a flop!







Book Blogger Hop

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

 

This week's question is: What is your favorite candy to snack on while reading? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer

 

MY ANSWER: Hmm...I don't munch on candy all too much when reading. Because I likely wouldn't stop eating the candy! Lol. Peanut butter cups are my go to, but they can be messy. Halloween candy wise, I loooove the Brach's Pumpkins. I loved the Candy Corn M&Ms but I think they got discontinued because I have not found them this year. :(

 

 

 


 

Oct 29, 2020

Random Thursday

 

Let's just get right back to fun and bizarre animal facts from Shane Carley's True Facts that Sound Like Bull$#*t!

 

(image borrowed from Pixar Wiki)

Octopuses are incredibly smart and have great problem-solving skills. They have been known to escape their aquarium tanks to EAT other exhibits and some manage to escape captivity entirely! Aristotle once said that octopuses were stupid, so I guess he didn't know everything!


That's amazing how Pixar did their research so well! Just glad Hank didn't eat anyone!

 

 

(image borrowed from Encyclopedia Spongebobia)

Plankton and algae can produce more oxygen than trees.

 

Whoa. 

 

 

(image borrowed from Disney Wiki)

There is a species of octopus that has detachable sexual organs. The male argonaut octopus mates by removing its sexual organ and flinging it at the female.The appendage makes its way inside the female to fertilize her eggs.


Oh, that just sounds weird!

 

 

(image borrowed from Top PNG)

Though they don't exist, the unicorn is the "national animal" of Scotland.


But really, do you have proof that they don't exist? ;)


 

(image borrowed from Encyclopedia Spogebobia)

Of the most venomous animals on earth, one of them is the snail! The geographic cone snail produces a venom that can paralyze its prey instantly.


Dude. Seriously?!







Oct 28, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday

 
Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

 

 

Havoc is a thrilling and sexy werewolf tale, full of girl power and heart-pounding paranormal action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, there's no description yet which is worrisome. I hope this one still releases this year! I loved Haven two years ago! Yay werewolves!

 

TITLE: Havoc
AUTHOR: Mary Lindsey

PUBLISHER: Entangled Teen
GENRE: YA Paranormal
RELEASE DATE: November 3, 2020

 

 

 

 

 


 

Oct 27, 2020

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker


Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

"I'm in the dark now, Rose, Mona thought from the shadows. I'm in here and I'm waiting for you, come join me, won't you?" p 30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE: The Ravenous
AUTHOR: Amy Lukavics

PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
GENRE: YA Horror
RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2017



Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

 

This week's topic is: Halloween Freebie: Top Ten Favorite Creeptastic Covers!

 

*in no particular order

 

10. SEVEN CROWS by Kate Kessler--I still need to read this one, but it creeps me out with how desolate it looks and what the person out there is doing!
9. EVENTIDE by Sarah Goodman--though this one ended up being slightly disappointing, the cover is still pretty spooky!
8. TEETH IN THE MIST by Dawn Kurtagich--this cover is so trippy, it's spooky!


7. THE APPEARANCE OF ANNIE VAN SINDEREN by Katherine Howe--another one I still need to read, but the hand as a doorknob freaks me out a bit. I mean...it is a doorknob, right?
6. RULES FOR VANISHING by Kate Alice Marshall--this one is kinda creepy even in its simplicity, I mean especially after reading it!
5. THE HOUSE by Christina Lauren--another one I STILL need to read! I mean, it's only creepy with that title giving you ideas as you stare a window...from INSIDE!



4. SERVANTS OF THE STORM by Delilah S. Dawson--the original hardcover. I mean the girl has blood on half her body, and she's tilted at an angle. If that doesn't scream creepy, I don't know what will!
3. THE RAVENOUS by Amy Lukavics--ironically, ANOTHER one I need to read still! But man...this cover gives me the creeps!
2. HORRID by Katrina Leno--I'm very finicky with my eyes, I hate people getting near them, I hate getting near them with anything...if I need eye-drops...oh I don't even want to go there! So flowers growing out of her eyes seriously freaks me out!



1. DIARY OF A HAUNTING by M. Verano--I remember seeing this cover in the stores and being seriously creeped out by it! But I totally bought it anyway! And it was a pretty freaky book! 








Oct 26, 2020

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

 

Last Week I Read:

Grave War by Kalayna Price (ARC)--Review to come at a later date


 

Review That Was Posted:

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco (ARC) (4.5 stars)


Currently Reading:

The Ravenous by Amy Lukavics


What I Plan to Read Next:

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer (ARC)


Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Waiting on Wednesday
Random Thursday
Book Blogger Hop
Stacking the Shelves--Disney Mania!

 

 

 


 

Oct 25, 2020

Stacking the Shelves--Disney Mania!

 

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! The meme is now hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality.

 

Sadly, I wish that subtitle meant a future Disney trip, but until COVID goes away and things can return to a better normal, my trip will have to be put on hold. Well, as you might have figured, I did get sick from last weekend and it lasted all week and I'm still working it off right now. It's been a terrible head cold. My head hurts and I had some congestion. Now it's clearing up but kind of goes back and forth with just congestion and no headache or a headache and no congestion. Needless to say it's driving me crazy still! My reading suffered greatly this week. I'm going to try to read all day today and see what happens, maybe I'll finish my book, maybe not. Though I'm pretty sure I'm changing my next read. Maybe next Halloween I'll read Hocus Pocus, I'm feeling in the mood for something less daunting and the 500+ pages is seeming too much for myself when I'm running more at 90%.

 

It was a weird week for books, I'll say that. It started tame...then B&N had a coupon for Friday and I thought, you know, I'm just gonna buy my Tuesday releases with that! They weren't on sale, but the coupon helped! Lol. Then I ordered another set of books at my favorite indie store when I visited yesterday--though of the 3, only 1 is for me--and two other orders came in the mail! One Amazon book actually came ON TIME! It's the FIRST book to arrive on time this year!! And that's likely including the few orders PRE-pandemic!

Here's what I bought:

 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling & Ill. by Minalima--omg! This edition...this edition is just breathtaking!!! The illustrations along the pages, the interactive parts...omg, it's STUNNING!
The Brightest Night by Jennifer L. Armentrout
You Were Never Here by Kathleen Peacock--keeper copy!
Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly--I had an ARC of it sitting in my pile but when I needed just one more book to activate my coupon I thought why not? Lol!
Exile by S.M Wilson--I still need to read the first book, but agian, The Book Depository sent me a coupon and I was weak!
Rebel by S.M. Wilson


Then my other ShopDisney order came in. So you may or may not know that Disney started a Minnie Mouse collector's set for each month this year that has a theme for a ride from Disney. I was lucky enough to snag the Peter Pan Minnie plushie, but when it came to the Haunted Mansion, I knew I was going to want more! Really, just the plushie and the headband and I GOT THEM!!

I positively LOVE the coloring of Minnie! The ears are sooo cool! I love the spooky veil and ribbons trailing from it! That's what really sold me on it! Lol!


Then on a related Disney Haunted Mansion note, MONTHS ago, I preorded the latest HM Funko Pops, but I wanted to get the rare Chase versions since they were of two of the stretching portraits!


It was basically paying double the price of one Funko from a higher retail price. Hot Topic sells them for like $12.50, so one of these cost $25. I felt like it was worth it since they look so much cooler! Lol! Now I just need to wait for the other two to eventually be released and I'll set them all below my framed picture of the stretching portraits!


And that was it for me this week!